John Elders is in his 27th year as Cal State Fullerton's head
cross country, women's indoor track and field and men's and women's
outdoor track and field coach. His involvement in the Titans'
program, however, dates to 1984 when he enrolled at CSF as a senior
transfer and competed on both teams before serving as an assistant
coach for three years before being promoted to the head job in
1988.

As Coach Elders enters his 27th season at the helm of
each program, he continues to extend his streak as the longest
tenured head coach in the history of Cal State
Fullerton. Elders was tied with former fencing head coach
Heizaburo Okawa (1982-2006) and former men's soccer coach Al Mistri
(1981-2005) for 25 years of service at Fullerton.

The programs have shown steady progress under his direction.
Quality over quantity has been the theme with numerous outstanding
individual performers and even All-Americans coming out of the
program.

Elders' goal is to provide a quality Division I program that
challenges student-athletes to be their best on the track and in
the classroom. He has helped produce national caliber athletes such
as decathlete Brandon Campbell, pole vaulter Giovanni Lanaro,
distance runner Heather Killeen, high and long jumper Matt Turner,
high jumper Johnathan Golden and sprinter/hurdler Lauren
Williams.

Elders earned his CSF degree in 1988 in computer science with a
minor in mathematics. A resident of Orange County since his
childhood, he graduated form Villa Park High School and also
attended Santa Ana College. He is actively involved in Athletes in
Action and has spent considerable time in leading clinics for
coaches and youth in places as far away as Costa Rica. He and his
wife, Nicole, a former Stanford volleyball player, have two young
children.